Happy Thanksgiving. Life Coach and MPY presenter Russ Terry shares the positive benefits of expressing gratitude. MPY wishes you a warm and joyful celebration with family and friends.
How being more Grateful will improve your Life!
by Russ Terry, Life Coach
It seems easy, right? Do “this one thing” and you’ll be happier. Well, I’m here to tell you that it IS easy, and you WILL be happier!
On December 10, 2012, I began a year of documenting 365 different people, things, experiences and feelings that I was grateful for, and made it into my first book: My Gratitude Journal, which is filled with a ton of life lessons and enjoyable moments. You see, when you look at the glass as half full, you see a heck of a lot more half full glasses! You also attract people who share this mindset, which feels so incredibly good. Finally, you realize that you may no longer want to be around individuals who are always negative, and that’s OK!
At first, I thought it would be hard to come up with 365 DIFFERENT expressions of gratitude. It really wasn’t though. When you train the brain to be more grateful, the examples keep flowing like a bountiful river.
My Mom and I used to play mixed doubles tennis tournaments together when I was a teen. She always said, with conviction, “PMA – Positive Mental Attitude”. That’s stuck with me all these years since. During my first year of being grateful, I was again inspired by HER attitude. She was diagnosed with breast cancer. Seeing her focus on the positives in the situation (for example, they caught it early and she didn’t need chemotherapy, only radiation) makes me happy – and a lot less scared than I otherwise would have been. Fast forward to 2024, and she’s cancer-free and will soon turn 81 years young!
Did you notice that? Because SHE’S grateful, it makes ME feel better. So not only can you make YOUR life better, but you can improve the quality of those around you. Who doesn’t want that??
